Plea in HC to dig trenches in villages near Western Ghats

Madurai: The Madras high court on Friday sought a response from the state government on a plea which sought to dig deep and long trenches along with solar fencing near the forest boundaries at the villages situated in Kadayam, Kadayanallur and Courtallam towns near the Western Ghats to prevent wild animals from destroying the crops and to prevent human-animal conflicts.A division bench of justice R Subramanian and justice L Victoria Gowri sought the response on a public interest litigation filed by S Vincent, a farmer from Tirunelveli district.He stated that since wild animals enter the agricultural land in the villages, the crops get destroyed. Several incidents are reported frequently where wild animals including elephants and wild boars are seen damaging the crops. This causes great loss to the farmers.The wild animals entering inside the villages also result in human-animal conflict. Few people in Tenkasi district had recently sustained injuries due to bear attack. Proper compensation is also not provided to the victims, he said.Though the petitioner had submitted several representations to the authorities seeking to dig trenches and solar fencing near the forest boundaries, the same was not considered. Hence, the petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench.